Archive for April, 2007

Recently I bought a book because the title sounded so good that I couldn’t pass it up:Get Anyone to Do Anything by David Lieberman.The cover shamelessly called it: “The Sensational New York Times Bestseller.”I fingered the pages with anticipation that here might lie the silver bullet, the secret key to unlock the great challenges of life.The contents boasted of practical principles that will enable you to:Get Anyone to Like You, Get the Instant Advantage in Every Relationship (I hope my wife does not discover this book, too!), Get Anyone to Say What He is Really Thinking, Get Anyone to Take Your Advice (Pastors feel their advice rates up there with fortune cookie messages!), Get Immediate Action in Any Situation (I am not using this part now, I promise.), Get Anyone to Forgive You for Anything (This might induce me to do things that I previously feared were unforgiveable.), Get Anyone to Understand Anything… You get the idea.When I saw the table of contents I fully expected to find writing on the first page and the rest to be blank.The first page would simply read:“Okay. You bought it, but you’ve got to be kidding.If it were easy enough to fit into this little book, you’d have figured it out on your own long ago.Grow up, and face the music.”

I bought the book for fun because I think we all would like to control our own lives and make things work the way we want.My problem is this.If I got things the way I want, if I could make people like me or listen to me or to do what I want, I am not sure it would be a good thing.Actually, as I read the book (I know, buying it was one thing, but reading it?) I found myself happy that all the little tricks, the controlling techniques do not work.Here’s the truth.My efforts at controlling my own life have not made me happy, have not been beneficial for other people and have not honored God.Actually, it has been in being my own “lord” that I have most seen my need for a far greater LORD than myself.This is what Palm Sunday is about.It is about how in our desire to control our own lives and circumstances, we have kept ourselves from the one who can: make me lie down in green pastures, lead me beside quiet waters, guide me in paths of righteous, and restore my soul.It is about how when God presented our true Lord and King, Jesus, we turned from him to ourselves.We trusted ourselves and our own control rather than His gracious care.What I know about my own lack of ability to bring good into my own life by my control, I would not trust me.Would you trust you? I thank God that He has sent His Son to be my King and Lord.Today is the day we affirm our need and welcome and rejoice in Him!Hosanna in the Highest.Blessed is He who Comes in the Name of the Lord!